2020-21 End of BMSB Season Newsletter

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) has received advice from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) on the release of the final edition 4 2020-21 BMSB season Newsletter

The following are extracts from the newsletter - please ensure your read the entire newsletter to obtain the full update

Most common concerns

Most concerns identified during the season were around:

• Untreated break bulk, flat racks or open top containers - target high risk goods shipped to Australia without being treated offshore or exceeding the 120 hour window post treatment window resulted in over 55 consignments being directed for export.
• Onshore treatments - containers were packed in such a way as to not allow for treatment to be conducted inside the container effectively resulting in goods being directed to a Class 4.7 Approved Arrangements for further intervention.
• Mixing of small volumes of untreated target high risk goods with goods not subject to treatment resulting in whole consignments requiring treatment or containers being exported.

 The Department recommends that consignments are treated offshore to avoid delays at the border.

2020-21 End of BMSB season
An Import Industry Advice Notice will be published announcing the end of the BMSB risk season on 31 May 2021.
Please refer to the Industry Advice Notice for further information. You can subscribe to receive Import Industry Advice Notices here.

The measures apply to goods shipped from 1 September 2020 that arrive in Australian territory by 31 May 2021 (inclusive).

Master consolidators
Master consolidator declarations will be required to be lodged until 1 June 2021. If your consignment is due to arrive on or after 1 June 2021, a NIL RISK declaration is to be made.

Summary of 2020-21 BMSB season detections
This season saw a decrease in the number of live detections at Biosecurity entry points, indicating the biosecurity policy continues to be successful in minimising the risk posed by BMSB.
Of concern is increasing detections in the post border environment from pathway supply chains not currently targeted (air cargo and mail) by the current seasonal measures.

Summary of 2020-21 BMSB risk season measures
This BMSB risk season to 17 May 21 has comprised over 100,000 containers that were subject to measures, including 11,963 LCL/FAK containers.
Approximately 38% of FCX/FCL containers and 82% of LCL containers subject to BMSB measures were treated offshore and experienced faster border clearance with no onshore intervention required.

Offshore Treatment Providers Scheme

• The offshore BMSB treatment providers scheme, registered 234 approved offshore treatment providers across 25 countries throughout the 2020-21 BMSB season.
• Five offshore treatment providers were suspended, one offshore treatment provider was reinstated and two were withdrawn from the scheme during the course of the 2020-21 BMSB season.

2021-22 Proposed Seasonal Measures
A review of the measures is currently underway for the 2021-22 BMSB season. Updates will be published via an Industry Advice Notice and notified on our BMSB Webpage.

Further information